Vice President of Engineering and Operations
Yampa Valley Electric Association is seeking an experienced operations leader to oversee our Engineering, Operations, and Safety functions in Northwest Colorado.
The Role: As VP of Engineering and Operations, you'll be responsible for the planning, construction, and maintenance of YVEA's electric distribution system. You'll lead teams that deliver safe, reliable, and cost-effective service to our member-owners while ensuring our infrastructure meets current needs and positions us for future demands. Safety is foundational to everything we do and you'll champion a culture where every employee goes home safely every day.
Who We're Looking For:
- Practical problem-solver who works through operational challenges systematically
- Strategic planner who balances immediate needs with long-term infrastructure requirements
- Collaborative leader who builds productive relationships across the organization and with external partners
- People developer who invests in team capability and creates clear paths for growth
- Credible and direct communicator who leads without unnecessary hierarchy
- Safety champion who embeds safe practices into daily operations and leads by example
- Continuous improvement advocate who questions existing practices and implements better approaches
- Willing to tackle difficult challenges and make decisions when outcomes are uncertain
Your Qualifications:
- 10+ years of electric utility experience with demonstrated leadership in operations and strategic planning
- 5+ years in senior management roles leading high-performing technical teams
- Proven ability to drive organizational transformation and operational excellence
- Strong track record building safety cultures and developing people at all levels
- Experience managing complex stakeholder relationships and leading through change
- Expertise in distribution systems, substations, SCADA, GIS, and reliability tools
- Strong knowledge of RUS specifications, OSHA regulations, and NESC compliance
- Experience with labor relations and cooperative utilities a plus
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or related field preferred. Equivalent experience at a senior level will be considered.
Your Responsibilities:
- Translate organizational strategy into operational execution
- Oversee capital planning and system investments
- Maintain and advance safety standards across all operations
- Ensure high reliability and efficiency
- Serve as a key advisor to the CEO
- Foster a culture of accountability and improvement throughout operations.
About YVEA:
Yampa Valley Electric Association serves Northwest Colorado with more than just electricity. We power communities, partnerships, and possibilities. As a member-owned cooperative, we're accountable to the people we serve and committed to innovation, sustainability, and exceptional service.
We believe in solutions over problems, relationships over transactions, and people over everything. We innovate, push boundaries, and we're looking for leaders who do the same.
Join us. Power what matters.
YVEA is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace.
